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Friesens to grow book business with two HP Indigo 50000s

November 5, 2019  By PrintAction Staff


L to R: Byron Loeppky, Senior VP of Books, Friesens; Chad Friesen, President and CEO, Friesens; and Steve Voth, Corporate Press Manager, Friesens.

Friesens Corporation, described as Canada’s largest printer of hardcover books, is investing in two new industrial-scale HP Indigo 50000 Digital Presses as it shifts more capacity to digital production.

Installation of the first unit was completed this week at the Friesens printing facility in Altona, Man. The B1 (30-inch) duplex, roll-to-roll HP Indigo 50000 Digital Press is the first in this digital productivity class to be installed in Canada, HP explains.

“The HP Indigo 50000 solution will enable us to further leverage variable printing to drive a leaner book production process, saving on multiple finishing steps for roll-to-sewn book blocks compared with the offset process,” says Chad Friesen, President and CEO of Friesens. “This is an important part of a larger automation initiative that will continue offering market-leading solutions to our customers, while responding to margin compression, and overcoming labour shortages.”

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An HP Indigo digital press owner since 2011, operating two HP Indigo W7200 web presses, Friesens says it chose the HP Indigo 50000 solution for its wider format, higher capacity, automation, and ability to more cost effectively print shorter run books compared with offset.

“The quality and productivity of the HP Indigo 50000, combined with the format size and unique imposition capabilities, will enable us to transfer more of our offset production to digital production,” adds Byron Loeppky, Senior Vice President of Books at Friesens.

The second HP Indigo 50000 press is scheduled for installation in late 2020. The new digital platform is expected to save production time and costs. In particular, Friesens plans to take advantage of the HP Indigo 50000 frame to gang multiple jobs.

“Congratulations to Friesens on choosing the HP Indigo 50000 Digital Press as the platform to grow print business into the future with high automation and flexibility,” says Haim Levit, HP Indigo Americas Vice President. “The HP Indigo 50000 is a game-changer and the perfect solution for printers aiming to improve sustainability with less waste and boost profitability with lower costs.”

The 29.3 x 44 inch (746 x 1120 mm ) image size boasts “ultimate flexibility” in imposition efficiency to print books and photo books, including yearbooks, lay-flat books, long book covers, and calendars.

Friesens is a 112-year-old book, yearbook and packaging solutions provider. The 600 employee-owners serve publishers, schools, self-publishers, and consumer brands from its 350,000-square-foot facility in Altona, Man.


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